Slovenia Armed Forces

Slovenia and Croatia defied federal army warnings to disarm their militias by midnight Saturday, and the deadline was extended. A terse report from the state news agency Tanjug said, without elaboration, that the collective federal presidency extended the deadline until midnight Monday "following a Croatian request." Authorities in the two republics had put their defense forces on highest alert and citizens were hoarding food supplies, media reports from Slovenia and Croatia said.

Slovenia and Croatia defied federal army warnings to disarm their militias by midnight Saturday, and the deadline was extended. A terse report from the state news agency Tanjug said, without elaboration, that the collective federal presidency extended the deadline until midnight Monday "following a Croatian request." Authorities in the two republics had put their defense forces on highest alert and citizens were hoarding food supplies, media reports from Slovenia and Croatia said.

Hurtling toward a Wednesday date with independence despite Western opposition, Slovenian leaders declared Monday "there is no way back" from secession and acknowledged that their action will mean the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Federal Prime Minister Ante Markovic made a last-minute appeal for unity, warning that civil war and economic ruin could be the costs of independence for Slovenia and Croatia.